WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – Four businesses want to open cannabis dispensaries in Watertown.
On Wednesday, the Zoning Board of Appeals tabled a decision on one shop proposed for 848 Coffeen Street. It’s holding off until December after owner Michael Sboro submitted 40 pages to the ZBA. It’s new information that members wanted time to review.
Another application got a flat-out no. It was planned for where the Bad Apple Saloon is on Arsenal Street. Due to its location and zoning, the application needed approval from the ZBA.
City Planner Geoffrey Urda says applicants can challenge the decisions with the New York Supreme Court.
“Anybody, the applicant or anyone else, can challenge a zoning board of appeals decision in court…but they would have to prove that the ZBA determined the case wrongly,” he said.
We reached out to both applicants and heard back from Sboro. While disappointed it was tabled, he says he’s optimistic his plans meet the zoning board requirements, and he’s hopeful he’ll get a green light.
While the future is uncertain for those shops, two new applicants have started filing paperwork to bring their marijuana shops to the city. Both look to open at Stateway Plaza at the same storefront.
One applicant is Dream Bridge LLC. The other is Chessworth Farms.
Both want to open in the plaza off Arsenal Street. There’s no zoning there, and with a special use permit, at least one of them could easily open.
“If that’s approved by the planning commission, they’re good to go as far as the city is concerned, except for maybe a building permit for any interior renovations they might want to do,” said Planning and Community Development Director Michael Lumbis.
The next planning commission meeting is on December 2.
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